By Antoinette Bradley At DeWitt High School October 11, 2014
Observational checklist to measure the level of technological development
Introduction
DeWitt High School is a suburban school located in DeWitt, Michigan in Clinton County. The school currently has a population of 950 students and 57 staff members. The school population is predominately white. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. The current schedule is a 4x4 block schedule. There are over 23 extra-curricular programs available to students.
Hardware check
What computer platform is used? (e.g., Macintosh or Windows)?
Windows and Chrome
What computer modelis used? Handhelds (e.g., iPods)?
Desktops, netbooks, chromebooks
What computer operating system is used? (e.g., Mac OS X or Windows 7)?
Windows 7 and Chrome
What computer add-on devices are used? (e.g., printers, scanners, digital cameras, etc.)
HP black and white and color printers, Ricoh copiers, scanners, digital cameras, web cameras, microphone headsets, document cameras, projectors, iPads, Kindles and Probeware
What computer configuration is used?
Dell OPTIPLEX 960 Low Profile Chassis, Core™2 Duo Processor E8400@ 3000 Mhz, 2048 MB RAM, SATA 160 GB Hard Drive, SATA DVD, 0 Floppy Drive, 128 MB Video RAM, 1 Parallel Port(s), 1 Serial Port(s), 8 USB Port(s), 1000 MB INT Network Adapter, Sound Windows 7 Professional 32Bit Installed w/ COA, restore disk
What type high-speed connection is used to access the Internet?
High-speed fiber network for complete network access inside and outside of the school. A wireless network allowing any device to connect to the high school's network.
Comments:
DHS is pretty well equipped in the area of technology. Students definitely have access to technology for instructional purposes. Teachers seem to use a variety of resources available to them. They are well connected and students also have the ability to bring their own devices for instruction and plug into the school’s Internet connection when needed.
Software check:
What type of multimedia authoring programs in use? (e.g. VoiceThred, iMovie, Photoshop, Inspiration, etc.)
Illuminate, Examview, iMovie, Audacity, Windows MovieMaker, VoiceThread, YouTube, Prezi, Aver media for the document camera.
What type of Internet programs in use? (e.g. educational games, educational online software programs, etc.)
GAPPS, Turnitn.com. news sites, You Tube, Aplia, Knowledge Matters – Virtual Business, Moodle. Quizlet, Infinite Campus, Bookshare, online textbooks, Physicsclassroom.com as a tutorial, PhET Physics simulations and Socrative.
What type of word processing programs in use? Spreadsheet? Other?
Microsoft Office, Office 365, GAPPS, and Open Office
What type of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) programs in use?
Google, Classroom, Moodle, Blackboard, E2020, Interactive Physics to create simulations. Sensors interfaced to the computer to collect real time data, YouTube videos of instruction with document camera,
What type of statistical programs in use?
Infinite Campus, Examview, and Excel spreadsheets. Primarily whatever is built into learning management systems.
How often is software updated?
Most software is updated yearly, as updates are available to the technology department.
Comments:
There are quite a few software choices for teachers to use in instruction with students. Nothing is uniform besides Infinite Campus, which is where al student information is housed. The plus side of this is that teachers can use what works best for their material. The down side is the many platforms that students need to remember as they move between learning subjects.
Level of training and trained personnel check
How many teachers are trained to use the computers?
Teachers are not trained to use computers per se , but they are trained at orientation on the basic logon of machines and their drive access.
How many administrators are trained to use computers?
Administrators are not trained to use computers per se, but they are trained at orientation on the basic logon of machines and their drive access.
How many staff people are trained to use computers?
Staff are not trained to use computers per se, but they are trained at orientation on the basic logon of machines and their drive access.
What is the computer/teacher ratio?
Teachers have access to a computer in their classroom for instruction as well as students academic progress updates. Some teachers also have access to a full lab of computers as that is their classroom.
How many in-service training sessions in the past three years?
Many teachers were unsure of the number of sessions offered. At most many said 5-8. The technology department in the district has a website that offers video tutorials on the common software offered to teachers and students.
How many teachers, administrators and staff have computers at home?
The majority of teachers, administrators and staff have access to a computer at home. Many even mentioned access to other peripherals, including tablets and handhelds.
Comments:
Having been a new employee to the district in the last year, I found the orientation useful in regards to the general logins for the system and software that we all use. However, I think that directing teachers to a website is impersonal in our profession. It takes away the camaraderie and support that teachers provide each other in learning. The same things we expect from students in collaborative learning in the classroom.
Evaluation process: Is there a specific evaluation in place that measures learning achievement and evaluate pedagogical techniques specific to technology integration? Does using technology with classroom instruction increasing student learning and achievement? How do we know?
What is the computer/student ratio?
1:1. Most teachers have to use a media center lab and for projects or the chromebook or netbook cart. The science labs are more like 5:1. Due to the age of their software and systems used students have to get into groups to complete labs.
What kind of evaluation is in place?
Evaluations are done by individual teachers as well as standardized tests.
How often evaluated?
Depending on the teacher it ranged from every marking period, to yearly.
Who does the evaluation?
Individual teachers and then suggestions are made for additions, deletions or adjustments.
Comments:
The evaluation section is not a very strong area. There seems to be a great deal of planning and implementation but the evaluation for continued use or change in technology for student success is lacking.
Do you feel the technology and support/training is adequate for your school/workplace? Why or why not?
I feel that the support is excellent at DeWitt High School. I have always felt that way, however, I feel that I am biased as I teach in my own lab/classroom. I have everything I need in my room. I am in constant contact with the technology department when computers need repair or the network is down. Although these situations are rare, I maintain contact with the tech department. Mainly it is for new students at the start of the year who do not have their logins and have not been added to the system yet. I am also in contact when students many who are former students in my classes have tech issues come to me to seek support. When surveying the staff I learned that some of them are not as fortunate as I am and use the bare minimum with students and this is primarily because of the logistics in using the computer labs and carts. However, because we have encouraged BYOD at the Junior High School, many students bring their own devices to the high school.
Training is adequate because it is offered in the form of tutorials that teachers may watch at their own pace. However, I believe that formal sessions should still take place so that teachers may collaborate on uses for student success. These sessions would also be beneficial for evaluation as well.
School Technology Survey
By Antoinette BradleyAt DeWitt High School
October 11, 2014
Observational checklist to measure the level of technological development
Introduction
DeWitt High School is a suburban school located in DeWitt, Michigan in Clinton County. The school currently has a population of 950 students and 57 staff members. The school population is predominately white. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to be college and career ready. The current schedule is a 4x4 block schedule. There are over 23 extra-curricular programs available to students.
Hardware check
Comments:
DHS is pretty well equipped in the area of technology. Students definitely have access to technology for instructional purposes. Teachers seem to use a variety of resources available to them. They are well connected and students also have the ability to bring their own devices for instruction and plug into the school’s Internet connection when needed.
Software check:
Comments:
There are quite a few software choices for teachers to use in instruction with students. Nothing is uniform besides Infinite Campus, which is where al student information is housed. The plus side of this is that teachers can use what works best for their material. The down side is the many platforms that students need to remember as they move between learning subjects.
Level of training and trained personnel check
Comments:
Having been a new employee to the district in the last year, I found the orientation useful in regards to the general logins for the system and software that we all use. However, I think that directing teachers to a website is impersonal in our profession. It takes away the camaraderie and support that teachers provide each other in learning. The same things we expect from students in collaborative learning in the classroom.
Evaluation process: Is there a specific evaluation in place that measures learning achievement and evaluate pedagogical techniques specific to technology integration? Does using technology with classroom instruction increasing student learning and achievement? How do we know?
Comments:
The evaluation section is not a very strong area. There seems to be a great deal of planning and implementation but the evaluation for continued use or change in technology for student success is lacking.
Do you feel the technology and support/training is adequate for your school/workplace? Why or why not?
I feel that the support is excellent at DeWitt High School. I have always felt that way, however, I feel that I am biased as I teach in my own lab/classroom. I have everything I need in my room. I am in constant contact with the technology department when computers need repair or the network is down. Although these situations are rare, I maintain contact with the tech department. Mainly it is for new students at the start of the year who do not have their logins and have not been added to the system yet. I am also in contact when students many who are former students in my classes have tech issues come to me to seek support. When surveying the staff I learned that some of them are not as fortunate as I am and use the bare minimum with students and this is primarily because of the logistics in using the computer labs and carts. However, because we have encouraged BYOD at the Junior High School, many students bring their own devices to the high school.
Training is adequate because it is offered in the form of tutorials that teachers may watch at their own pace. However, I believe that formal sessions should still take place so that teachers may collaborate on uses for student success. These sessions would also be beneficial for evaluation as well.